Poppin' Arms ~ Dorm Lounge

[Shiny Phantump]

Soul's eyes lit up with curiosity. "What's a hobo?" Even Celeste didn't know that word. "Is it about being humble or something?"

 

[Ambyssin]

"No. It means you're homeless and you don't own any possessions," Bahamut responded. "Any other questions?"

 

[Shiny Phantump]

Soul smiled. "Oh, so it's a minimalist philosophy? That's cool! I know more than I did before now, so I think I'm ready to try to be better than I was before, too."

 

[Ambyssin]

Bahamut wasn't sure whether to admire their optimism or facepalm at their naivete. He settled for neither.

"... err, right. Best of luck with that."

His head and neck slid off the armrest and onto the floor. Anyone who looked at him would think he was plain uncomfortable, but Bahamut wasn't remotely bothered. He just lay on the couch, different colors cycling through his eyes in a rhythmic fashion.

<><><>​

 

[Cresselia92]

A teapot brimming with green tea; a couple of cups; some sugar; cupcakes, snow scones, and cookies. Yes, everything was ready for a dainty tea time, worthy of nobility.

Icetales smiled with pride, his tails wagging and releasing a faint mist. If there was something he was good at, it was at organizing tea parties, what with Her Ladyship inviting important noblemons every day. One of the many benefits of learning the ways of a majordomo.

"This is swell. Yes, swell, indeed," chirped Icetales, checking on everything for the umpteenth time. He truly wanted things to be perfect, and even though he knew that Cynthian wouldn't have minded, either way, he really wanted to set the mood.

"Hm. Dost thou think that this looks adequate...?" he asked to Keo'Keo. The Shadow looked away from the window, before shrugging.

"Yes, that should suffice,, answered the Shadow with disinterest, before resuming looking at the window. Not exactly the most reassuring answer, but his flames burned with blue and white light. Both host and shadow were relaxed, which was good.

"Ah, much appreciated."

Then, the Ninetales glanced around the place, while using two of his tails to tighten his bow and readjust his mane. It was only a matter of time...

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian could barely hold in her excitement when Icetales told her to meet him at the lounge in half an hour.

She twirled a vine from her collar while waiting in one of the halfway. She let herself breathe and feel the air around her. Even as a roserade, her instincts kept her in the mood to bathe in the sunlight seeping through the window.

Cynthian checked her badge. It was almost time. So, she went on the move, trailing her flower on the wall as she made her way to Icetales. Her heart fluttered with every step, and she carried an air of tanginess around her.

"Hey, Icetales. I'm here... Wow," Cynthian muttered with glittering upon making her way in.

It took no time for her to notice the assortment of desserts laid over the table mat. Even from where she stood, the soothing scent of tea tickled her senses and mellowed her heart.

"This is so... I don't know what to say. I'm amazed," Cynthian said with a blush. She walked up to Icetales, smiling, and sat on the chair next to him.

"We've shared tea before," Cynthian said, eyeing the snowcones, then she gigfled. "This feels much more than that. I'm not familiar with the tradition, but I think I love it."

 

[Cresselia92]

Before his eyes or even his ears registered the incoming presence, a scent had spread around the area.

Intense. Tangy. Floral.

"Ah."

Icetales turned toward the source, and sure enough, he saw her: Cynthian, who glanced at him with a gaze brimming with merriness. His mood brightened noticeably when she studied the table and complimented his good work, to the point that his fur started glowing with faint golden sparks. Ah, what lovely sensation, to feel his own heart beating with harmony and happiness!

Though, upon realizing that he was starting to let his Radiance go wild, he took a very deep breath to focus. However, his sheer joy was still there and his tails wagged with more energy.

"Miss Cynthian! I am so very elated that thou hast accepted," he exclaimed, beaming a happy grin. As soon as she sat down, he did the same with his own seat. After all, ladies first.

"This is so... I don't know what to say. I'm amazed," Cynthian said with a blush. She walked up to Icetales, smiling, and sat on the chair next to him.

"We've shared tea before," Cynthian said, eyeing the snowcones, then she giggled. "This feels much more than that. I'm not familiar with the tradition, but I think I love it."

Icetales blinked, then tilted his head. "Oh, yes. This is the first time I have organized a royal tea party, is it not?" He grinned more widely. "Well! I wanted things to be perfect. After all, this is a moment to celebrate!" The Ninetales pondered if mentioning the whole 'coming-back-to-life' business would have been inopportune, so he decided to leave that part out. "...To celebrate us. Our union, and the blossoming faith and deep feelings in our hearts. I... sure hope thou shall appreciate this.

 

[Adamhuarts]

"...To celebrate us. Our union, and the blossoming faith and deep feelings in our hearts. I... sure hope thou shall appreciate this.

"Oh, Icetales, I do. I really do," Cynthian said, heart fluttering and flowers exuding a strawberry scent. With Icetales sitting close to her, she took the opportunity to lean against her shoulder.

"Thank you." Cynthian took a deep breath and placed a flower over her chest. "I've never been to a party or celebration before. How does this work? Are there any procedures, or etiquette we have to worry about?"

 

[Cresselia92]

Icetales felt his chest warming up when Cynthian leaned against him, but he managed to keep his usual composure -- yet another valuable lesson he had learned as a butler.

But golly! Why was it so much tougher to keep his burning emotions and drumming heart in check?

“Oh, well! I do not expect thee to have to learn every single rule of a royal tea party, but I can teach thee a few basics.”

The Ninetales extended one of his tails toward the snow scones.

“So! One of the most important traditions where I come from it’s to break the snow scone in two halves,” he snapped the treat in two parts by extending another tail, “and eat one piece at a time. Once thou hast savored both,” he motioned toward the cup with another tail, “thou sip some tea. This is considered the correct procedure, as the flavors blend in a harmonious sequence. Almost like… music of the taste.”

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian watched Icetales' demonstration and took mental notes of everything from his demeanor to his words. Afterwards, she nodded and smiled confidently.

Cynthian grabbed a snow scone with the vines crawling out of her flower. She broke it gently in two. Even before she tasted it, the sugary scent of the freshly baked good was alluring. She took one half into her mouth to try it out.

Cynthian expression softened into a dreamy face as she chewed the treat. The scone melted into a crunchy and savory goodness, washing over her tastebuds in delightful creaminess.

"This tastes so good!" Cynthian hummed and held her cheek. "I'm so glad I can enjoy all kinds of meals now."

 

[Cresselia92]

”Oh yes! As a Roserade thou should have a finer sense of taste now,” mused Icetales, before beaming a happy smile. “And it is most wonderful thou art enjoying it! I made sure to replicate the recipe from my homeworld. Petram helped with that, too.”

The Ninetales brought half of the snow scone to his mouth, then chewed it slowly and silently. He nodded a couple of times, savoring the sweet flavor of the dried bilberries and raspberries like a professional sommelier, and the tip of his tongue stuck out to lick the icing sugar that was stuck on his lips.

And then, his eyes started sparkling like sapphires. Oh, that tasted so much better than he expected!

“Excellent. I am so very pleased that my son has inherited the talent of a baker. These snow scones are… perfect.”

After eating the other half with the same coolness and grace, he brought the cup of tea toward his mouth with a free tail. Time for the next step!

“Now, to sip tea. Make sure to sip it silently, yes? It is considered rude to gurgle or make other sounds.” Icetales glanced at Cynthian reassuringly. “Not that I would be offended or anything like that. It is just a tiny suggestion.”

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian observed how Icetales sipped the tea too. Though he mentioned how it'd be rude to not drink tea silently, her flowers released a faint lemon scent. Even if he reassured her he'd take no offense of any sort, Cynthian held an earnest determination to give tea sipping the utmost respect it needs.

"Okay, here goes nothing then." With her free flower, she sprouted more sturdy vines and gently wrapped two on the cup's handle while keeping the others free.

Cynthian brought the cup to her face and eyed the mist rising off the liquid. How mesmerizin. She braced herself and took a sip, making sure to be as quiet as possible about it.

Even with half Cynthian's mind focused on getting the drinking process right, she couldn't seldom ignore the sweet and refreshing aroma of the green tea. The taste made her feel closer to nature itself.

A brief moment later, Cynthian lifted the cup from her lips and settled it down onto the saucer with a satisfying clink. She beamed at Icetales, scratching her cheek as she chuckled.

"Did I do it well?"

 

[Cresselia92]

Icetales hummed for a few seconds, almost as if to build tension, before beaming a pleased grin. "Thou did splendidly, my dear!" he chirped joyously, before nuzzling Cynthian on her cheek with his own muzzle. "It was a swell first attempt. Fine job, indeed."

It was his turn. With unwavering coolness and grace, he tipped the cup just enough to let him lick the beverage, and closed his eyes to focus entirely on that action. A soothing sensation spread throughout his body as he savored the sweet drink and inhaled the scented mist, and his free tails swayed gently as proof of his refreshed mind and relaxed spirit.

Ah, such a perfect blend between intense scent and delicate taste. Yes... he felt like at home. His real home.

With the same utmost care, he tipped the cup back down and placed it on the table, humming in delight and nodding slowly.

"...That hit the spot."

Satisfied and feeling in good spirits, he looked intently at Cynthian with eyes brimming with curiosity... and something else. An emotion he had yet to fully grasp.

"So, Miss Cynthian... huh." He looked down and rubbed his forepaws together, while his tails quivered subtly. "I wanted to say that... I am most glad that thou art here. With me."

Then he looked again at the Roserade and placed a paw on one of her bouquets, while a faint blue tint appeared on his cheeks. "I... am grateful that our paths crossed, and that we... well..." He trailed off, unsure of how to conclude the sentence. "Um... Golly, why is this so hard to say? I... I feel... good when I am... with thee..."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Thou did splendidly, my dear!" he chirped joyously, before nuzzling Cynthian on her cheek with his own muzzle. "It was a swell first attempt. Fine job, indeed."

"Thank you," Cynthian said in a shy voice, rubbing her bouquet where he'd nuzzled him. She glanced his way, a slightly mischievous smile on her face. "What can I say? I'm learning from the best."

A wave of admiration welled up in Cynthian's heart as she watched Icetales drink his own tea with beauty and grace. Her mind wandered back to when she'd first met him way back in Treasure Town, back when she'd only found him agreeable and easy to talk to than most. She never could've known they'd grow so close, though even from her first impressions of him back then, when she was male, perhaps it'd only been a matter of time before Cynthian got roped into his warm kindness.

"So, Miss Cynthian... huh." He looked down and rubbed his forepaws together, while his tails quivered subtly. "I wanted to say that... I am most glad that thou art here. With me."

Then he looked again at the Roserade and placed a paw on one of her bouquets, while a faint blue tint appeared on his cheeks. "I... am grateful that our paths crossed, and that we... well..."

Cynthian's heart stilled, and then drummed rapidly. Everything in the room ceased to exist. There was just her, and Icetales in that moment.

Cynthian's heart skipped a beat when Icetales placed his paw over her roses. Tenderly, she wrapped a few vines around his paw, feeling his pulse and channelling hers into him.

"Um... Golly, why is this so hard to say? I... I feel... good when I am... with thee..."

Cynthian parted her lips slightly and gave him a yearning look. She tightened her vines around his paw and giggled with a deep blush green on her face.

"I feel very much the same way about you." Cynthian leaned against him and nuzzled him on the cheek. "Even before you stole my heart, I've always loved being around you. Meeting you, becoming a friend, and falling in love with you, they've been the greatest things to ever happen to me."

 

[Cresselia92]

"I feel very much the same way about you." Cynthian leaned against him and nuzzled him on the cheek. "Even before you stole my heart, I've always loved being around you. Meeting you, becoming a friend, and falling in love with yo, they've been the greatest things to ever happen to me."

Wow. Cynthian truly had become bolder, braver and more frank since her evolution. This much Icetales had noticed.

Gone was the insecure and small plant who was afraid of being a disappointment for both himself and his entire team, and who was plagued by nightmares of a past twisted by darkness. In his place, there was a radiant lady, whose heart had been filled by hope for the future and boundless optimism.

Huh. How ironic that it took her dying to be truly reborn. Perhaps it wasn’t only her body that had dissolved, but her fears, too.

Icetales had no clue if that was the case, but he knew something else: he would have fought to preserve that light, to be the shoulder that she needed and the presence in her heart.

“This… means plenty to me. Truly.” Golly, why were his eyes getting wetter? He rubbed them with a paw, before flashing a small joyful smile. “This was… one of the best things that happened to me, too.”

With those words, the Ninetales pulled Cynthian more toward himself with his tails, locking them in a soft and gentle embrace. He reciprocated the nuzzle and closed his eyes, while his mind wandered into a stream of memories.

Spoiler: Memories of a Noble Fox

He thought about their first meeting…

"I don't believe we've talked much. I'm Roselia Cynthian. Are you also human like her?" he asked, gesturing at Cuicatl with his flower.

“Hm? Oh!” He swiftly turned in the direction of the Roselia, a bit flustered by the sudden appearance. However, he was as swift in recovering from his surprise. “Ah, wonderful. Another acquaintance so soon! I’m most honored!”

He bowed elegantly to the Roselia, before beaming a smile and wagging his tails. “Pleased to meet thee, Sir Cynthian. As I was saying just now, thou can call me Icetales. At thy service!”

He blinked as he looked at the oddly colored roses in his arms, before showing an impressed expression. “Ah, what lovely shades in those roses of thine, sir. Are those natural colors? They look truly exquisite.”

"It's good to meet you formally then, Icetales. From the way you speak, are you a noble? Certainly from an older time period than my world is, if I had to guess?" Cynthian asked, tilting his head. Then his face went bright red when Icetales complimented his roses.

"Oh! Err... Yeah!" Cynthian held his flowers to his face to hide his embarrassed expression. "They're natural. I inherited it from my mother and everything... Thanks."

Then, about the preparations for the party and Cynthian’s gift…

"Oh, Icetale, there you are!" Cynthian said, peeking into the doorway. His bag swung beside him as he trotted over to Icetales.

"I've been looking for you. Oh, I hope I'm not interrupting your reading," Cynthian said, noticing the various papers, teapot and biscuits on the table when he took a seat in front of Icetales.

“…Hm?”

Icetales redirected his attention from his papers to the Roselia in front of him, and beamed a friendly smile. “Ah! Greetings, Sir Cynthian! Oh, do not burden thyself with such concern. I am always available to converse with a kindred soul.”

As soon as he gathered everything, he turned to face Cynthian and sat on his haunches, before dragging the bowl in front of his muzzle.

“Very well. What brings thee here and to my presence in such fair day, sir?” He motioned toward the desk with a paw. “Fancy some fresh water, perhaps?”

"Say, I actually came here to give you something." Cynthian reached for his bag's zipper and pulled it open with a vine. He brought out something encased in a wrapper. It was a black handkerchief the same shade as Cynthian's darker flower. He held it by the lone snowflake pattern decorating the corner of the handkerchief and presented it to Icetales with a nervous smile.

"I got this for you. It's not much, but I figured you might like it since you come from a world of nobility and such," Cynthian said while rubbing the back of his head.

"It's my way of thanking you for being an all around pleasant friend to be with, and I also find you to be really cool. No pun intended," Cynthian said with a chuckle.

Icetales blinked once, befuddled by the gesture. He glanced at the handkerchief in the vine, then looked again at the Roselia. His tails started quivering and his ears flicked twice.

After a few seconds of silence, he found the words. “T-That… is that present truly for… me…?”

A whirlwind of emotions invaded his mind as he found himself struggling to compute the gesture of the Roselia in front of him. It had… been years since he last received a gift from anyone. He felt… he felt… he felt a sudden warmth radiating inside his body, to the point that he believed he was turning into a fire Vulpix.

He extended a tail toward the handkerchief to collect it, and once he held it in front of his face, he traced the silhouette of the snowflake on the dark background.

“I… I do not know what to say…” he mumbled with a soft and shy voice. He held the gift a bit closer to his muzzle, before raising his head to look into his friend’s eyes. Azure gleams pooled his irises, and a sparkling smile appeared on his face. “That is… such a wondrous gesture, good fellow! I… I am truly touched…”

His tails wagged faster. “Thou are a most kind soul! I shall cherish this handkerchief dearly!” His fur took a faint shade of azure, while faint snowflakes floated around his body. “I am… most honored, sir. Thou art… a truly delightful individual, too.”

Then, about the encounter with Giovanni at the lab…

Then, he felt something hitting him and winced. What was that? Did that dastardly human throw something or…?

He glanced at his tails, and his eyes widened when he saw Cynthian trembling in fear. Panic.

“Sir Cynthian…?”

Ha gazed around the battlefield. Attacks going left and right, Team Drumstick looking disoriented and Karat down. And that machine. That horrible, horrible machine!

…But no. He couldn’t afford to falter. Not now. Not when his comrades needed him most.

Throwing caution out of the window, he channeled the Radiance into his body. He gritted his fangs as a dull sensation spread through his body and his thoughts blurred further, but he had to do it. For his team.

“Sir Cynthian…” He took a deep breath and stared at the Roselia, his eyes glowing golden. “Do not surrender now, my good comrade. The situation might look dire, but… we shall prevail. Never lose sight of that hope.” And so, he poured a bolstering Radiant energy into his comrade. “Thou can do it. I believe in thee.”

A wave of relief hit Cynthian when the graceful form of the Ninetales materialized in front of him, and he trudged forward and embraced Icetales from the side. Though it was more he fell against him as Cynthian barely had the strength to keep standing.

"Icetales, Icetales, are you okay?!" Cynthian asked, his eyes glistening with worry.

Icetales took in a deep and shuddering breath as he felt his body regain its weight. He panted and looked frantically around him.

Machine. Pokémon. Their comrades. The inert form of Petram. The dark cat feline. The sirrah! And then, after looking down…

“S-Sir Cynthian…? Did thou…?”

He paused to gather more of his thoughts. His brain felt like splitting, and his body wasn’t much better. He felt wracked, so much wracked. And Father… F-Father…

“Sir Cynthian!” bawled Icetales, wrapping a tail around the Roselia’s back for unconscious comfort and shuddering. “I do not want to go back there! I do not want to go back there! I would die if that happened again!” He sobbed once more. “Do not let him take me away! D-do not…”

The tables had turned, and now Icetales was the one who needed him. So, Cynthian hugged Icetales as firmly as he could with his arms. On instinct, his flowers released a soothing fragrant scent, the same kind his mother used to placate him when he was just a budew.

"It's okay, I'm here. I'll always help you, like you've always helped me," Cynthian said, a tear streaming down his cheek. He gave Icetales a gentle and comforting smile, hoping from deep within his heart that it'd reach him.

Cynthian glanced back at Giovanni. That dastardly man. He had hurt Icetales. HE did this. A blazing hatred erupted from Cynthian's heart as he glared at the Mewtwo.

"I won't let him take you again!" Cynthian cried out. He aimed his flower at Giovanni and shot a destructive beam of light right at him.

Then, we they opened their hearts about their respective pasts. First Cynthian’s…

"I'll forget... I'll forget that I killed Mama Rosa."

"Thou were the cause... of the passing of someone," he muttered, keeping his voice as steady as he could. "...How, and why?"

"By the time I was five years of age, I was very restless and eager to reach the unrealistic dream I'd set for myself. I wanted to become a Roselia, and then a Roserade as quickly as possible. Mama Rosa would tell me every rose had their time to bloom, and though I would listen to her, no words could burn the drive I had. A certain day came and I was approached by Dark Matter..."

Cynthian lowered his face. He couldn't look Icetales in the eyes anymore, even as tears continued to stream down his face.

"Dark Matter said it'd give me what I wanted, to be like my mother, if I did it a few favors. At the time I didn't know it was Dark Matter, and I let it in. The next day that followed, I had taken a torch in hand, spread fire to the forest surrounding our village and... Mama Rosa came eventually. She tried to stop me, to reach out to me, but to no avail. Dark Matter had already taken control. I watched myself stab my mother right through the chest with a spike. I must've fainted right after, and she was already gone by the time I woke up..."

"Sir Cynthian... I appreciate that thou trusted me enough to tell me about thy past. That was most brave of thee. And... thy life was a true tragedy, I can tell this much." He rubbed his muzzle with his leftmost tail, trying to use words that wouldn't upset the Roselia any more. "But... that was not thy fault. Thou... did not know, thou were not aware of the malicious intents of the Dark Matter of thy world. And," he looked away, "I can see now... why thou did not trust Diyem."

Icetales paused to let the words sink in, his tails flicking erratically.

"...It is... horrifying what happened to thee and thy mother. I... cannot even fathom that." He took a deep breath, letting out a cloud of frost. He would have needed a stronger tea after that. "Thou were... a tool, however. Thy body might have spilled blood, but thy heart did not. In my world, some folks have fallen to similar stratagems... with similar results. I know how bleak and warped thy view of things must have become.

"However... I do not hate thee, nor think any less of thee. Because even though thy past is marred, this present showed who thou truly art. Thou art a hero, and many heroes were equally responsible of tragedies. But they kept going, because they knew that the folks who they have wronged would have wished them to go on." He beamed a tiny smile. "And... I am confident thy mother would not wish for thee to beat thee up like this, and already forgave thee from the twilight. Thou... need to forgive thyself, because this was beyond thy control."

Then his own…

“I… miss my own mother, too…” He closed his eyes. “And… I wish I could become like her. She was such a kind soul, always willing to help others and to offer them reassurance. I have been… trying to be like her and to follow her teachings. To be… a light for others, a source of compassion…”

Then, his voice lowered in pitch, almost cracking.

“…But I cannot be like her. I never could. No matter how much I try, I… know I cannot be a light…”

"What makes you say that?" Cynthian asked, and then he blushed. The words he was trying to say next sounded embarrassing in his head, but he felt he needed to say them. "I'm not one to talk when it comes to how one should see themselves, but you've always been a source of light to me, Icetales. Even now, you're willing to listen to me cry and mope, but you're not even judging me. You're telling me it's not my fault. You're telling me it's okay to dream and I... if that's not compassion, I don't know what is."

“I… I am cursed. My blood is as dark as the night. A nefarious blend of a nefarious ‘mon. My father…” He took a deep breath, and his muzzle turned into a snarl. “My father… is a daemon, Sir Cynthian. A heartless tyrant, who was willing to assassinate his own son to cover his lustful sins. I… I have daemonic blood in my veins. I am… darkness born from darkness.”

He paced back and forth, while shadows flickered around his tails.

“I am a monster! A monster pretending to be a ‘mon among other ‘mons! I… I…” He shuddered and shook his head. “I do not even know if my feelings and heart are sincere, or if I’m merely a manipulative ‘mon with a face of light. Am I truly a good ‘mon or someone pretending to be a good ‘mon? This… this single thought terrifies me.”

A single tear sprung in his eye. “I… do not want to be a monster. I do not want this marred lineage. I do not want to be like him! But… but this is who I am. I… don’t want darkness, but I am… darkness…”

"You're not a monster, Icetales! Don't call yourself that!" Cynthian pleaded while wrapping his arms around Icetales' front limb.

"Why do you say your heart isn't sincere? If you saw someone in need of help, would you walk away or lend a paw? Of course you'd help them because that's the kind of mon you are!" Cynthian rested his head against Icetales and took a deep breath. His dizziness still shook him, but there were more important things at that moment.

"Who cares if your father was a daemon? How you're born doesn't decide who you get to be. I don't care what anyone else thinks about you, but I wouldn't see you any differently even if you'd been Dark Matter himself. You'd still be someone dear to m. You'd only ever shown me kindness, only given me encouragement, I... I'd be worse off in life if I hadn't gotten to meet you." Cynthian gazed up at him and said, "You're Icetales, a kind and good soul, and that's who you'll always be to me."

And then, the dam broke. Icetales started crying tears of happiness as he felt a huge weight being lifted off of his heart, and he embraced Cynthian with his entire set of tails. He sobbed, muttering some blurred words of gratitude, and rubbed his muzzle on the Roselia.

Then, something stuck out from underneath the blue bow, loosened by the Ninetales’s shaking… it was Cynthian’s handkerchief.

And… the meeting they had in the Voidlands…

"I... I missed you," Cynthian said, letting her heart speak for her.

Icetales stared at Cynthian for a while, his mind a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts, to the point that he didn’t hear anything else for a while. Then, he moved forward and wrapped his white forepaw behind Cynthian’s back, pulling her into a gentle hug. His tails wrapped up around them, and the Ninetales lowered his head. For the briefest of moments, his darkness receded.

“I am… overjoyed to see thee, Miss Cynthian,” he murmured, his voice full of relief. Then, he shuddered. “I-I am sorry… for not being able to rescue thee back then. I… I did all I could. And… And knowing that thou were stuck here, after what thou went through in thy world…”

The Ninetales paused to gather his thoughts, then shook his head. No, he didn’t need to keep talking about that.

“But I am here now…” He tightened his grip and his voice became almost a whisper. “I am here.”

The light engulfing Cynthian flickered and faded, leaving behind a Roserade donning and elegant and graceful appearance. She hugged Icetales tighter than she ever had, as if the world would end if she ever let go.

"Thank you, Icetales. There's nothing that fills my heart more than being able to spend even another moment with you."

His mouth opened, but no word came. That event was so stunning and… and…

A lone tear fell from Icetales’s eye and he lifted his paw, tracing her taller back. Goodness, what a change! Was his presence what triggered the evolution? Did he do it? Did he bring… hope?

You did.

“Miss Cynthian,” he said at last, joyous tears falling from his eyes. “I… I would do anything for my friends. Even if that meant traversing the hell itself…”

Cynthian held Icetales' paw, gently squeezing it with her vines. She moved forward and kissed him on the cheek, and followed it with a light nuzzle.

"Yes, you would. You always have. I no longer have to worry, because you have become the light radiating in my heart now. That's why I've come to love you," Cynthian said in a voice filled with clarity and unshakable trust.

She embraced him again, tighter this time. "I believe in you, and everyone. I'll be waiting for you, Icetales, because I know I'm going to be okay now."

Trust… they both were willing to trust each other with their own lives. Did that mean…?

“Oi! We’re getting snuggly here?”

Icetales stiffened, barely managing to suppress a double-take. In front of the table stood Petram, who was wagging his tails while his eyes glowed with a bright indigo light. Not too far from him stood Keo’Keo, who scratched his cheek with a forepaw.

”Apologies. He slipped past me,” muttered the Shadow, who seemed genuinely embarrassed.

Well, that was one way to spoil the mood.

“Huh… Were thou not having fun with thy friends and sharing cupcakes with our comrades?” asked Icetales.

Petram nodded. “That I was, but I kinda ran out of them while walking around the place. I got hungry, so I ate one. Then I got hungry once more and I ate another one. Then—“

“Alright, I… understand,” interrupted Icetales while waving his forepaw, knowing well where that story was going.

“So! I was going to the kitchen to bake some more cupcakes!” Petram turned to the tray in the table. “And I see you didn’t eat any!”

“We are, well, focusing on something else. We will eat them later.”

“Well! I hope so! I wouldn’t want them to go to waste!” The Vulpix winked. “Especially because… hehe! You know why we’ve baked those cupcakes, yes?”

Icetales paused for a moment, wondering what Petram was talking about, and stared at the cupcakes. There was something they had mentioned about them, while they were busy gathering the ingredients and everything…

Then, Icetales’s eyes widened. “Ah! Thou mean—?”

However, Petram was already gone, with only his fading giggles echoing from behind Icetales and Cynthian as he disappeared in the direction of the kitchen.

Keo’Keo cocked an eyebrow. ”Youth is so fascinating. Naive, yet receptive at the same time…”

 

[Adamhuarts]

Just like during the embrace that spurred her evolution, Cynthian could feel her heart melting while wrapped in Icetales' soft tails. She closed her eyes as everything around her ceased to exist. At that point in time, it was just her and Icetales, and their hearts had become as one.

And then Petram appeared. Cynthian looked up at the little vulpix talking to Icetales, and she smiled fondly at him. Looking at Petram reminded her a bit of Ivy.

“So! I was going to the kitchen to bake some more cupcakes!” Petram turned to the tray in the table. “And I see you didn’t eat any!”

“We are, well, focusing on something else. We will eat them later.”

“Well! I hope so! I wouldn’t want them to go to waste!” The Vulpix winked. “Especially because… hehe! You know why we’ve baked those cupcakes, yes?”

Cynthian tilted her head and raised her free flower to her cheek. Had there been some other reason behind the tea party?

Keo’Keo cocked an eyebrow. ”Youth is so fascinating. Naive, yet receptive at the same time…”

Cynthian's eyes glinted, and her cheeks took on a darker green shade. Could it be...? She didn't want to jump to any conclusions, but Icetales did say mention the party to be about the celebration of their union... and the blossoming faith and deep feelings in their hearts. Cynthian knew what her feelings were at least, so...

No, if it had been that, Icetales probably wouldn't have taken such a roundabout approach. For the time being, Cynthian stilled her racing heart and took a relaxed sigh. She'd simply enjoy the beauty of the moment and simply be glad to have a place beside Icetales.

"Thank you for making this celebration for the two of us. I also appreciate you looking after Ivy while I was gone." Cynthian said, gently picking up one of the muffins.

"I ran into her earlier, and she seemed fine. She congratulated me on my return and for evolving, then she went off on her way to seek more adventure. What a joyful soul she is."

 

[Cresselia92]

Icetales breathed out a sigh of relief. Good, she didn’t seem bothered by the interruption or anything like that. If all, she seemed… amused? Though, he could only wonder what part of everything entertained her: Petram’s shenanigans, or something else?

Well, there was no reason to question anything for the time being. He simply enjoyed her company, because only the heavens knew how long that moment of peace would have lasted and he didn’t want to waste any second with worries about the future. He would have busied his mind to think about them in due time.

"Thank you for making this celebration for the two of us. I also appreciate you looking after Ivy while I was gone." Cynthian said, gently picking up one of the muffins.

"I ran into her earlier, and she seemed fine. She congratulated me on my return and for evolving, then she went off on her way to seek more adventure. What a joyful soul she is."

“Oh, um… thou art welcome,” replied Icetales, a bit meekly. “The poor soul had no one. I wanted to make sure she was safe and swell. Petram and Sir Celeste helped plenty, too.”

At that moment, Icetales recalled that he had moved to Celeste’s room, after the death of their comrades. Returning to the dorm, with everything moved in other places… that would have led to a very awkward moment.

Though, he got an idea.

’Petram. Canst thou ask Sir Celeste and Miss Mellow if they are fine swapping dorms? I do not desire to make either of my closest friends feel neglected nor pushed aside.’

”Huh, sure. I’ll do that as soon as I’m done baking these cupcakes.”

’Good lad.’

With that thought out of his mind, he reached out for one of the cupcakes and beamed a hopeful smile.

“I hope thou will enjoy these cupcakes,” he said, before showing the top of the sweet treat — a strawberry and a mint leaf adorned the whipped cream. “I poured mine heart for these.”

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian took a small bite of the cupcake and hummed deeply in satisfaction. She wiped off a bit of cream on her lip and took another bite.

"These cupcakes are so delicious! So wonderful." Cynthian said, flowers radiating a sweet tangy scent. "I could eat a hundred of these and still want more. I can tell you put your heart into these, truly."

"I'll have to repay this kindness somehow. It's not right to be the only one receiving," Cynthian said, her mind already weighing different thoughts and possibilities on what she could give him in return. She reached out a bouquet and caressed his cheek with a smirk. "I'll figure something out. You should look forward to it."

 

[Cresselia92]

"I'll have to repay this kindness somehow. It's not right to be the only one receiving," Cynthian said, her mind already weighing different thoughts and possibilities on what she could give him in return.

“Ha! There is no need to repay anything,” replied Icetales, waving a forepaw. “Thy company and knowing that thou art safe are rewards by themselves. Truly, I—”

She reached out a bouquet and caressed his cheek with a smirk. "I'll figure something out. You should look forward to it."

And in one fell swoop, Icetales felt like his chest and hearts were on fire, while his tails chilled instantly and were cloaked in a thick combination of mist and snowflakes. He had just turned into a living oxymoron… because of a simple caress.

By the stars! How?

“Um, I… will very look forward to that…” he muttered, staring intently at Cynthian as he enjoyed the sensation of those soft petals rubbing his cheek. He could feel his throat vibrating, a purr threatening to come out, and he hastily bit into his own cupcake to shove it back down.

The Ninetales blinked, letting the flavor of the strawberry filling and the caress soothe him into a dream-like state of pleasure. After a few seconds, his eyes started gleaming like diamonds and his tails glowed with Radiance.

“…Most wonderful, indeed…” he commented, making it unclear who or what was this “wonderful” target.

Once more, two connected souls enjoyed the rest of the tea party and relished their respective company, with only a lone shadow as their witness.

While the future was still uncertain and there were threats at the horizon, the present was a treasure that they were going to cherish immensely.

And whatever challenge awaited them, they were going to face it.

Together.

<><><>​

 

[Disco]

Mellow had not been home since the fight against Red. Too much to do and too many to keep an eye on. Especially since Giovanni and the other Mew-Two were around...

Not only that, but they had made no headway into who the spy might be. It was just so frustrating. The Charmeleon relaxed in the bean bag chair with a mostly forgotten bowl of curry next to her that had grown cold. They needed to get information from one of them. It didn't matter which one. And be prepared for a fight if it came to it...

But that was something she couldn't do on her own. And while there were a few people on the team she knew more than others, she wasn't sure who would be willing to put themselves at risk. Asking around was risky too. Mellow scrolled through the list of names stored in her badge yet again, and sighed...